Second floor, Zhuo Ya's bedroom.
After placing Zhuo Ya on the bed and undoing his clothes, Gu Yanting looked at the girl's mottled red marks with possessiveness flaming and crazed in his eyes.
"Ah Ya, my Ah Ya, you can't escape... "
The rain outside the window was heavy, while the two inside began another round of love-making.
Zhuo Ya, lost in endless affection, fell into a nightmare.
She dreamed of that dark, damp basement.
The crazed man approached her step by step, pressed her to the ground, and possessed her almost madly.
His heat echoed in her ears.
"Ah Ya, mine... Ah Ya."
No... she wasn't Gu Yanting's.
She didn't want Gu Yanting.
"Miss Zhuo Ya, are you awake?"
The servant's voice sounded in Zhuo Ya's ears, and the nightmare-stricken Zhuo Ya immediately opened her eyes wide.
The woman's fair forehead was covered in sweat.
She wiped the sweat from her face, and upon lifting the covers to see the red marks on her body, her face instantly flushed red.
Memories of last night surged up, and she couldn't help but clench the covers tightly.
Gu Yanting!
"Miss Zhuo Ya, did you hear me speaking?"
The servant at the door kept calling when there was no response from Zhuo Ya.
Zhuo Ya composed herself, biting her lip she said, "I'll be downstairs in a moment."
She rubbed her waist and got out of bed, took a bath, and then changed into a conservative, high-collared long dress before descending the stairs.
"Dilly-dallying, were you laying eggs upstairs?"
Xiaoxiao held her chopsticks, incessantly tapping the table, chastising Zhuo Ya with dissatisfaction.
Zhuo Ya knew that Xiaoxiao didn't like her, and she didn't want to stay in the Gu Family's home either, but she owed the Gu Family and couldn't leave without Yanting's permission.
"Come over."
Gu Yanting's cold gaze swept over Xiaoxiao, who pursed her lips while eating breakfast but still glared fiercely at Zhuo Ya.
Zhuo Ya, who originally wanted to sit further away from Yanting, heard him calling her to come over.
Zhuo Ya's body stiffened. She dared not approach, fearing that Yanting would commit those disgusting acts in front of Xiaoxiao.
Xiaoxiao already hated her enough; Zhuo Ya really didn't want to add to that hatred.
"Ah Ya, are you being disobedient?"
Seeing Zhuo Ya pale and frozen in place, Yanting's words fell heavily on Zhuo Ya's heart.
"Big brother, do you even care if she eats?"
Xiaoxiao pouted and muttered to Yanting.
"Ah Ya."
Yanting ignored Xiaoxiao, his icy gaze landing on Zhuo Ya.
Zhuo Ya bit her lip and slowly walked towards Yanting.
As she reached Yanting, she braced herself for him to act improperly, but instead, the man simply pointed to the soup and breakfast in front of her, his tone brooking no argument, "Eat it all."
Zhuo Ya sighed a breath of relief and obediently sat down, lifting the soup and drinking it in one go.
The freshly served soup was very hot, and Zhuo Ya's mouth was burnt red, yet she didn't utter a sound.
Yanting saw this, and his handsome face was filled with frost. The servants behind him, intimidated by Yanting's chilly presence, all bowed their heads.
"Bring the ice cubes."
Yanting extended his arm and pulled Zhuo Ya into his embrace. The woman let out a small cry as she sat on Yanting's thigh.
"Brother Ah Yan... let me down."
Zhuo Ya was both embarrassed and annoyed, her feeble strength no match for Yanting.
With his left hand holding Zhuo Ya's tender waist, Yanting lightly pinched the soft flesh there as a threat, "Don't provoke my patience."
The warning from Yanting frightened Zhuo Ya into complete stillness.
Xiaoxiao, seeing the two of them in such an intimate pose, suddenly widened her eyes. She abruptly stood up, an expression of anger as she threw down her chopsticks onto the table.
The loud noise scared the timid Zhuo Ya, who was now even more afraid to breathe.
"Shameless woman."
"Xiaoxiao."
Yanting lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes piercing toward Xiaoxiao.
Xiaoxiao had always been afraid of Yanting since she was young.
She stiffened her face, her expression defiant as she said, "Big brother, I'm going to the hospital later to see mother. Do you want me to tell her about your dirty dealings with Zhuo Ya... "
"Apologize."
Gu Yanting impatiently interrupted Gu Xiaoxiao, his tone cold and commanding.
"You want me to apologize to Zhuo Ya? Why should I? Her mother is shameless, and so is she. It's not enough that she seduced my little uncle, she even wants to seduce..."
"Liu Ying."
Gu Yanting couldn't bear Gu Xiaoxiao's nonsense and called out directly for Liu Ying.
Like a ghost, Liu Ying swiftly struck Gu Xiaoxiao at the knees, causing her, unprepared, to kneel before Zhuo Ya.
With that move, everyone held their breath.
Indeed, the young master cared about Miss Zhuo Ya and wouldn't allow anyone to bully her!
"Apologize."
"Big brother..."
Gu Xiaoxiao was scared into tears by Gu Yanting's indifferent demeanor.
Zhuo Ya was stiff all over, not daring to move in Gu Yanting's embrace, and seeing Zhuo Ya crying her eyes out, she hung her head, the shame in her heart unable to be erased.
Gu Yanting, I really hate you.
Why must you humiliate me in this way?
"Want to be sent abroad?"
Gu Yanting, sensing the emotions of the woman in his arms, bent his head to kiss her fair forehead, his eyes showing madness and charm.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn't have humiliated you."
Gu Xiaoxiao's pretty face turned deathly pale, knowing the temper of Gu Yanting. In order not to be sent abroad by him, she had to swallow her pride and apologize to Zhuo Ya.
Zhuo Ya looked stunned at Gu Xiaoxiao who was apologizing reluctantly and with grievance in her face.
Gu Xiaoxiao had always liked to bully Zhuo Ya, who, living at the mercy of others, never dared to speak out. Now she was kneeling before her, apologizing— it felt unreal.
"Not accepting it? Then let her kneel until you feel better."
Gu Yanting gently pinched Zhuo Ya's fingers, asking with a cold expression.
Zhuo Ya tensed up, murmuring quietly, "No need, I forgive her."
Zhuo Ya wasn't wrong; she indeed was lowly!
Gu Yanting gripped Zhuo Ya's chin, his handsome face close to hers, his tone cold, "Ah Ya, only I can bully you."
No one else should bully her!
"Take the young lady to school."
Gu Yanting released Zhuo Ya, ordering someone to take Gu Xiaoxiao to school.
"You just wait."
Gu Xiaoxiao crawled up from the ground, her eyes fiercely glaring at Zhuo Ya, silently mouthing a few words to her.
Zhuo Ya's palms were sweating; she knew Gu Xiaoxiao wouldn't let her go.
"Don't be afraid."
After Gu Xiaoxiao left, Gu Yanting gently opened Zhuo Ya's palm. He looked at the pinch marks on her palm, his eyes glittering with a sharp chill. Speaking to Zhuo Ya, his tone was surprisingly tender.
Zhuo Ya stared blankly at Gu Yanting, her eyes beginning to redden, "Is this the outcome you wanted?"
To have her despised and cursed by everyone.
Gu Yanting's fingers traced Zhuo Ya's eyes, his lips close to hers.
"Ah Ya, you can't escape."
She belonged to him, from the very start.
"Gu Yanting, I hate old men."
Zhuo Ya gritted her teeth and leaned her face close to Gu Yanting's ear, suddenly saying this to him.
If Gu Yanting made her unhappy, she'd make sure to return the favor.
"Didn't I make you happy last night? We could continue later."
Gu Yanting's words, neither light nor heavy, made Zhuo Ya shiver.
She didn't want to do those disgusting things with Gu Yanting again.
Her head drooping, she said in a soft and aggrieved tone, "I... hurt, Brother Ah Yan, it hurts."
"My Ah Ya should behave and listen, do not try to provoke me."
Sometimes the little soft cat can be sharp-tongued, but it's harmless.
But if she really angered him, he could tear her in two.
"Remember to wait for me for lunch."
"I have plans to go to the library with my classmates this afternoon..."
Zhuo Ya didn't want to have lunch with Gu Yanting every day, so she quickly made up an excuse.
"Planning to do what in the library?"
Gu Yanting's fingers gently circled around the tender area of Zhuo Ya's waist, asking with a smirk.
The man's wicked tone combined with his charming and seductive face made Zhuo Ya's heart pound.